John Gill, Mariner, born c<1636? died c1696
married Mary Tull born c<1636 died >1700

This may be the same John Gill, Mariner, who appears in early Virginia records
(see modern Tull oral traditions). If so, this man may have been a son of
old Stephen Gill, or at least very close kin. Old Stephen Gill was an illiterate
"Chirurgion" as was Richard Gill below. We may actually be kin to this Mariner
Gill line back in the early 1600s.

Leonardo Andrea, the professional genealogist, information given him by other
Gill descendants, supposed that James Gill of Richland County was descended
from this man. It is documented that this was not so. Rather it is documented
in the South Carolina Colonial records that James Gill of Richland County,
South Carolina, came to South Carolina from Virginia. Mr. Andrea was incorrect
in assigning our family to this one. However, there was a John Gill, who
may have been this one, or equally another, in the very early Virginia colonial
records.

(From the Andrea compilation of mariner Gill records)
Mrs. Mary T. Gill, widow of the late John Gill, 11 March 1700 Grants a Power
of Attorney for her South Carolina lands and the estate of her late husband
to William Fullwood, Mariner, to collect money and to sign receipts for same
for me while I am absent from this Province and on a trip to
Jamaica to see about the Estate of my late father
(see below, John Earle Tull). Witnesses Matthew Pratt & Gunning Bedford.

(Record quoted by Andrea) John Earle Tull Estate 27 January 1699 of Kingston
in Jamaica Island. John E. Tull died in Kingston and possessed of an estate
in South Carolina. This estate was administered by William Capers in South
Carolina and the S.C. Appraisers named were: Henry Gill, Samuel Williamson,
Ephraim Wingood, Humphrey Prewatt, & Joshua Wilkes. Inventory of personal
estate on file, but no more, and no heirs. He is likely to be the father
of Mary T. Gill referred to above?

While working for other Tull descendants, Andrea obtained the following record
from them. Thomas Tull and Richard Tull came from England to Virginia and
settled in Northumberland in 1664. Both removed to Maryland. Thomas Tull
married a Mishall. John Earl Tull of Maryland with his son in law, John Gill,
were traders in the West Indies and Charleston. John Gill died be(fore?)
his father in law, Edward and William Tull set sail in 1698 or 1699 to Charleston
to get Mrs. Mary Tull Gill and sail from there to the West Indies. Edward
and William Tull never reached Charleston and presumption is that their boat
was captured by pirates.

This John Gill may be one of the earliest immigrant Gills, but is definitely
not traceable to Richland/Barnwell Gills.

"Mrs. Mary T. Gill of the 1700 power of attorney record, appointed "a mariner"
to oversee her SC interests while she was in Jamaica about her deceased fathers
estate.

The Tull records, which had been passed down for many generations completely
independent of Gills, indicate that Mary Tull married John Gill, and that
this John Gill was employed in some type of commerce which carried him to
South Carolina, Jamaica, and also implied England. The Charleston records
do state Mary T. Gill.

In the Gill records sent to Andrea by either Mr. Cupit or Mrs. Lucie Gill
Price before 1947, Mr. Andrea states: "In the Gill data, these Gills are
said to have come up from Charleston area and to have descended from a Gill
who was a mariner from the Island of Barbados and with him a son, William
Gill, who named a sister, Frances Gill in London. These Gills took up lands
up the River from Charleston." Paul Gill and I (FOC) have documented this
assertion to be incorrect. The Tull connection seems established to Kingston,
Jamaica. The John Gill bc<1683 d1720 who lived in Barbados did not leave
any male children in South Carolina. The William and Frances Gill mentioned
are his children, not those of the John Gill married to Mary Tull. The will
from which these names were obtained, is that of his son, William, who apparently
left no children and named only his sister Frances Gill of London. I have
not yet located a will or probate record or even a deed of old John Gill
c<1636 - c1696 who married Mary Tull. I have yet to search English, and
Jamaican records for his probate record.

Henry Gill (born<1668, died c1724) was one of the appraisers of John Earle
Tull's estate, and is likely to have been related to him. James Gill (<1686
- d1724) of the Charleston area might be related, perhaps another son, as
Oliver Spencer and Richard Rowser, witnesses to will of Jane Gill, widow
of Henry, were also involved in the estate of James Gill. Oliver Spencer
administered James Gill's estate, and Richard Rowser was one of the appraisers.
This establishes (admittedly somewhat weakly) two sons of Old John Gill.
John Gill c<1683-1720 of Barbados is also associated by virtue of the
fact that the 1706 British Public Records Office record mentions that his
plantation was about 1/2 mile distant from "Rowzers" (presumably Richard
Rowser or his kin).

Possible Children of John & Mary T. Gill (no legal document
connecting any of these)

1. Richard Gill, born c1658, first known Gill
settler of SC, page 145 of Book 1672-82 of the Proceedings of the Lords
Proprietors: 2 Nov. 1678, permission is given to Mr. Richard Gill to lay
off for himself 100 acres of unclaimed lands at any place he may like in
the hinterlands of Charles Town, and to have full hawking, fowling, hunting,
fishing, and timber rights on said lands, but not to have royal mining privilege
on said lands. (Andrea accidentally found this in an unindexed book while
looking for something else). This is a pretty early reference, as my earliest
date for "Charles Towne" is only 1664. In order to be 21 in 1678, Richard
would have to have been born before c1657. This appears to be the first Gill
record in South Carolina. No further South Carolina records are known for
this Richard. {Barbados Records Vol. II, p192, probate record} John Johns
departed 29 Sept. 1682. Richard Gill, chyrurgian aged 24: "as chyrurgian
of the ship Barkshire in which ship one John Johns was a mariner and in Apr.
1682 the said Johns being very sick asked deponent to call Samuel Risborough
to whom Johns gave all his wages." Proved 29 Sept. 1682. Note that this Richard
Gill was born c1658, and this is too much to be coincidence! Richard probably
obtained a grant of free land in "Carolina", but his heart was really at
sea! Perhaps he settled somewhere other than South Carolina, this is the
only Barbados record of him that I located, or perhaps he died at sea. The
term "chyrurgian" is an archaic term for surgeon, and means therefore, that
Richard Gill was the ships physician. A "chirurgeon" at this time was an
uneducated person willing to amputate diseased limbs, not necessarily a well
educated medical doctor. Capt. Stephen Gill of York Co., VA was also a
"chirurgeon" (Va. Will Records p456, also Fleet's Colonial Abstracts v24,
p27), and I place my bets that these VA and SC Gills were related (in England
or Scotland)! Note that the name Richard Gill shows up again in the 1790
census in Lancaster Co., and in 1800 in Barnwell Co. (I believe these two
are the same person). I emphasize that all Charleston records may not be
in the SCDAH in Columbia. Certainly many are not indexed. There are no references
to a Richard Gill in the SCDAH "Combined Alphabetical Index" (in 1993, but
it does not even show the 1678 record above!).

2. Henry Gill, born before 1668, died c1724,
married Jane Rowser. Henry Gill was one appraiser of the John Earl Tull,
SC estate in 1699. The fact that Henry Gill served as an appraiser of JE
Tull's estate may make him a relative. Henry married Jane
Rowser {Mrs. Sarah Rowser will sg. 1 May 1721/2 pr. 22 Feb. 1722/3
in Charleston mentions "my daughter Jane Gill", and "my grandson Henry
Gill".}{NOTE, Mr. Andrea details her will incorrrectly, this is what the
original states - FOC}. The Register of Christ Church Parish states: Henry
Gill son of Henry Gill was born 27 Jan. 1720 to Henry and Jane his wife,
and baptized 16 April 1720. (Book of Misc., SCDAH 1724-25 p392) 22 June 1724
deed of gift from Jane Gill to her son Henry Gill of Berkeley Co. when he
is 21: 2 negro children, David & Hannah, one gold ring, one small Bible,
one heifer, provided Henry Gill, when 21, do pay unto my beloved friend,
Henry Cornish, the sum of money laid out by said Cornish discharging what
debts were contracted by Henry Gill, Sr., father of (unintelligible) only
the first child that lives to the age of 1 year that shall be born to the
aforesaid negro, Hannah, I freely give to my beloved friend, Henry Cornish,
without any condition whatsoever. (s) Jane herXmark
Gill. Witness Oliver Spencer, Richard R. hisXmark Rowser
{Richard Rowser was a former servant of Mr. John Manerick in 1671 in Charles
Towne, and Rowser was given 10 acres of land in 1671, having worked off his
indenture - Rivers, "A Sketch of the History of So. Car.", 1856, p372}.

On 29 June 1724, Jane Gill (Holcomb incorrectly spells her name Jean) married
her "beloved friend", Henry Cornish, Christ Church Parish Register (Holcomb's
SC Marriages). The next line of the Church Parish Register lists: "Elizabeth
Cornish borne (sic) 28 Dec. 1724, baptized 28 March. Although it does not
state who Elizabeth's parents were, it seems reasonably clear that this is
a record of Jane Gill's "hanky panky" with her "beloved friend" Henry Cornish,
whom she married apparently immediately after her husbands death, and Elizabeth
was born a scant 6 months later (and don't give me a line of BS about
premature!). I wonder what Henry died of? These records are all too clear!
A letter of guardianship of Henry was granted to Jane Cornish on 8 Nov. 1730.
8 March 1730, Henry Gill, a minor and now aged 14 prays that his mother,
Mrs. Jane Cornish, be named his legal guardian. (Thus Hy. Gill, Jr. should
have been born c1716 although the church register states 1720!, he was only
10. Perhaps the church record is one of Baptism, and at a later date). The
name Henry Gill appears much later in both Richland County (Columbia area)
and Barnwell County (Allendale area). Two documented Children of Henry
Gill (Elizabeth is not his):

3. Captain John Gill, born c<1679, died
"suddenly" between 28 Feb. and 10 Aug. 1720 (dates of will and probate in
Barbados), mariner. Apparently resided in Bridge Town, Barbados at the time
of his death (according to will of his son, William). Possibly same man:
11 Sept. 1700 Capt. John Gill married Mrs. Mary
Wheeler, St. Michael's Parish, Barbados (Barbados Marriages, p98;
p589, RL1/1); by my birth year, John would have been 21 or older. Since John's
will was in St. Michael's Parish, this is probably him. This 1700 record
implies that he was at least 21 in 1700, so he was born c<1679. Memorial
for a land grant of 500 acres on south west side of Medway (Meadway in original)
River in Berkeley County, and bounded on NE by the Medway River, on SE by
lands of Landgrave Smith; on SW by John (Job) Howas, Esqr. (Howe or Howes)
{Howes' land adjoined Yeoman's Ck., also called Goose Ck.; Howes' neighbors:
Lewis Pasquenan?, John Emperor, Dr. Nathaniel, & John Gill}, on NW by
Math Snowes; and is due 5 shillings rent on every first day of December.
Return made by John Gill 8 Feb. 1704). (from odd volume on early land returns,
Columbia SCDAH -Andrea).

According to his will in Barbados, this land was "in the possession of George
Legon, Esq." in 1720 at the time of his death. The fact that John left it
to his son, William, and was listed as "mariner" implies that John was an
absentee landlord in South Carolina. John Gill mentioned on land plat of
Robert Howe, Goose Creek, Berkeley Co. 16 Dec. 1706. Likely a reference to
John: "Gill's Plantation", 1/2 mile distant from Rowzer's (likely Richard
Rowser, see below), near "the Neck" dated 30 Aug. 1706, p179 of Records of
British Public Rec. Office relating to SC 1701-10 [note name "Rowzer", which
also occurs in records of Henry and James Gill]. (Barbados Records, Vol.
III, Wills: "John Gill suddenly intended to depart this island, mariner.
St. Michael's Parish, 28 Feb. 1720 (book states 1719/20), RB6/6, p107. My
son, William Gill, at 21, plantation in Province of South Carolina in Berkeley
County butting land now or late of Thomas Smith, Job Howes, and Nathaniel
Snow, and on Midway and Cooper Rivers now in possession of George Legon,
Esq., estates in Barbados and Great Britain; daus. Frances Gill, Anne Bellwain
Gill, Mary Gill, and Jane Gill all at 16; my friend Henry Alleyne of St.
Michaels Parish. Xtr. signed John Gill. wit. Mary Luisllbo, John Hempton,
John Kempson. Proved 10 Aug. 1720." These records clearly associate this
John Gill with South Carolina, Barbados, and England. Barbados is the easternmost
island of the "West Indies", a small island of 166 square miles area.
Children of John Gill (from his will):

William Gill b. <1699 died between 12 Feb.
1740 and 10 Aug. 1743; at various times in Barbados, South Carolina, and
England, a son and heir of Capt. John Gill, mariner. Will of William Gill
sg. 12 Feb. 1739 and pr. 10 Aug. 1743 and recorded at Somerset House, London,
England: "William Gill (son and heir) of Captain John Gill, Mariner, late
of Bridge Town, Barbados, deceased, but now of London, Gentleman. Will 12
Feb. 17(39-)40, proved 10 Aug. 1743. To my sister Frances Gill, now in London,
lands which my father, John Gill, bought of Nathaniel Snow, Doctor, situated
upon the River near Charles Town, SC, also all goods due from my father's
will in Barbados, Carolina, or elsewhere. Executrix, Sister Frances. Witnesses:
John Eaglesfield, Ann Eaglesfield, Catherine Payne. Boycott 262." {FOC: "Boycott"
apparently means name of clerk?}.

4. James Gill, wife, if any, unknown, not mentioned
in 1724 inventory. Estate administered 4 May 1724 returned 21 July by Oliver
Spencer and the bond of Spencer signed by John White & Joseph Law; appraisers
named were John White, Phillip Jones, Joseph Law, Richard Rowser, & John
Evans. No list of heirs in WPA copy, but perhaps there is in original in
Charleston. Notice the presence of Richard Rowser again. Richard Rowser was
a servant of Mr. John Manerick in 1671, and was given 10 acres in this year
(Rivers p372). This man was clearly a farmer, and the presence of two beds
indicates that he did not live alone.

John Gill died 1738, mentioned in memorial
for land of Robert Hume on Goose Creek 8 Feb. and 9 May 1733. Gill entry
in the Parish Register of St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Charleston: John
Gill, mariner, buried 23 Dec. 1738. {could also be child of Richard, #1,
but unlikely; could also be new immigrant} Notice that Goose Creek is the
location of the land of John Gill <1679-1720 who resided in Barbados,
which strengthens my association of these Gills. "Goose Creek", or Yeoman's
Creek is about 26 km due north of Charleston (as the crow flies!), and enters
the Cooper River from the northwest. The mouth of the Creek is about 15 km
north of Charleston.

Joseph Gill, born before 1689, God child
mentioned in SC will of one Phillip Lee, 10 Feb. 1689. No further SC records.